Air-compressor and similar device.



No. 853,356. f PATENTE!) MH 14, 1907.

M. W. HALL.

`AIR looMPREssof; AND SIMILAR DEVIGE.

APPLIDATIONIILED IAB. 2. 1903.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILAN W. l-lAlJlJ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO N OISEIJESS COMPRESSOR ANI) A'IR BRAKE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y1, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AIR-COMPRESSOR AND SIMILAR DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 190'?.

Application filed March 2,1903. Serial No. 145,696.

To rtl/Z whom, it Tmry concern/ As shown each sIphere, the valves I eachWorking in a cylinatleast coincides with the outer periphery of.

' Bc it known that I, MILAN W. IIALL, a citin rical bore in the top F,which bore is con- 55 zen of the United States, residing in theborcentric with, and slightly larger than the seatough of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings, c of the inlet L, and. each valve J works in a cityand State of New York, have invented l similar bore in the cover O whichbore is certain new and useful Improvements in Air- ,l slightly largerthan and concentric with the Compressors and Similar Devices, of whichseat d, which is Idrilled through the cover and 6o the following is aspecification. f opens into the adjacent bore in the top. The This.invention relates generally rto comcap l) is drilled with a shallowcavity nimmepressors or pumps, and is especially applicadiately aboveand concentric with the seat blc to aircmnpressors. for each valve J, sothat each valve I and J The invention aims to provide certain imhasopposite its seat a. circular stop or reprovements which will behereinafter fully verse seat against which the valvemay strike Set forthwith reference to the accompanying when opening. This prevents iatteningthe drawings, in which, valves.

Figure 1 is a side' elevation partly in verti- The driving mechanismconsists of a worm cal mid-section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and shaftQ having right hand worm R and left 7o looking in the direction of thearrow, of the hand worm S, and a right hand worm gear T preferred formof my invention as applied to and a left hand worm gear U, meshing withan air compressor driven by an electric inothe worms R and Srespectively and also tor; F ig. 2 is a fragmentary plan viewtheremeshing with each other. Each worm gear of, partly in section onthe planes of the line has a crank V at each side, the crank on one 7 52--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section side being shown asd'iametrically opposite thereof cut on the lines of Fig. 2 and that onthe other side, and the cranks of one looking in the direction of thearrow. Fig. 4 gear being quartered relatively to those of is a sideelevation ofthe bearing frame and the other-gear. The shaft Q is mountedin. caps removed; Fig. 5 is an end elevation central and end bearings e,and is 4driven' 8o thereof. from the" shaft f of the motor I) throughthe l Referring to the drawings, Are resents the medium' ofla-compensating joint W consistbase, B the cylinder casing, O the ivinggear, ing of a block of insulating or other material and D anelectric'motor or other source of g, having notches 71, in its oppositefaces, power. The base is shown as a casting havthose on one faceextending at right angles to ing a motor bede at one end andjgear box'bthose on the other face, in which notches' at the other end.` The casingB is provided v play pins t traversing the one the shaft Q andpreferably'with four cylinders E, having parthe other one the shaft j;lthe effect being to alle] vertical" axes, Aopening at their lower makea driving connection capable of comends into the box b, and closed attheir upper pensating for slight variations of alinement .9o ends by thetop F. A single/acting piston G between the worm and motor 'shal' tsand. 4Works in each cylinder. A valve chamber still permitting a quickseparation of the II 'is rcvided for each cylinder, and each -inotorfrom the worm shaft without necessicham er has a suction valve I, anddischarge tating opening the gear box, valve J, and each is 'connectedwith its cylin- Each piston G is connected with one of the 9'5A der by asingle port K. A suction. port L, cranks V by'a :pitman X which it'sloosely connecting with the outer air between the 'and unconined dverthe crank at one end 'cylinder-s, is provided for each chamber H, and isconnected to the piston by a pin j -at and'a discharge chamber Mconnects .all the the other end. LThis loose connection enables valvesJ, from which chamberthe discharge the crank to slide through the pitmanto its roo flows downward and away between the cylproper position andto'work vtherein Without inders through the duct N. The chambersthrowing the pitman out of line with its I-.I are formed artly in thetop F and 'partly piston. "n the cover the upper part 0f which is -Eachworm gear. is shown as formed with a closed by a cap l large bearing hubk, the periphery of which 1o: valve is a4 ball valve or the crank V.This gives strength to the crank and simplifies manufacture andoperation.

The gears and worm shaft are supported by a frame or journal bracket Ywhich has in its upper face the lower half e', oi the bearings e for theworm shaft and in its lower face the upper half l of the bearings forthe gears, the lower half of these bearings being provided in caps Z,while the upper halves of the bearings furthe worm are formed in thebottom face ofthe casing B. Bolts m, traversing the frame and caps andscrewing into the casing B, hold the bearings together. The frame Y is abifurcated hollow casting having sides p, connected by cross4 pieces g,in which latter the cavities for the bearings e are formed7 whilebetween the side pieces p, a space r exists wide enough to receive thetoothed portion of the gears T and U. The space r opens up through thetop f of the frame Y between the cross pieces g, and there constitutesrecesses for receiving the worms. All the cavities for the bearings Zare formed in the under faces of the side por-- tions All bearings maybe formed by' 4casting anti-friction metal in .the hearing cavities asshown, or in any other suitable way. lThe bearings i'or each gear areshown as extending along the hub and against the side face of the gearfor holding it against axial displacement. The bearings for the wormshaft permit free axial movement thereof. i

The box b has a finished upper edges `making a tightiit' with thefinished lower face t of the casing B on a plane coincident.- With thatoi the axis of the shaft Q, and the frame Y is finished on its upperface u, and fits against the face t of the casing in the same plane whenit is clamped thereto by the bolts m. The box makes a leak-tight jointwith the casing except at the motor side'where it is formed with aflanged opening o coinciding with a similar opening w formed on thecasing, these openings receiving and suitably inclosing the coupling W.

The"`""casing B is shown-as provided with cavities a. opposite the wormsR and S and intermediate of the bearings e. These bearings extendlongitudinally of the casing and the cylinders E are disposedequidistantly at each side of the center of the worm shaft, andseparated sul'liciently to leave an airspace between the cylinders ontheopposite sides of this shaft. This permits air to flow between :thecylinders as4 Well as against all sides of each, which aids in coolingthe parts. It also provides roomfor the suction ports nd the dischargeduct between the'cyliners.

The valves beingdisposed central ofthe four cylinders occupy the minimumof space, and this arrangement enables great economy in port and valvechamber clearance, which 4The motor D is then is especially important inair com ressors. The single top F- serves to close all t e cylinders andprovides the individual valve chambers for each, while the cover Oprovides the discharge chamber` and the cap l3 closes this. This attainssimplicity of construction, and reduces the number of parts to theminimum while making :it easy to get access to the discharge or valvechambers without removing cylinder top. The pistons G are each singlecastings grooved and provided near their upper ends with suitablepacking, as segmental metallic ring or other expansive packing.

ln assembling, the compressor, the spur gears or cranks T U are broughtinto mesh with the cranks of one at 90 relatively to those of the other,and are placed in the frame Y. The Worm shaft is placed in the bearingse while the casing B is inverted. The pitmen X are slid over theirrespective cranks, and the pistons Gr` attached, and the latter areinserted in their respective cylinders as vthe frame Y is lowered'on tothe face t of the casing until the gears mesh with the worms. The caps Zare then placed on the hubs of the gears, and the bolts m are insertedand screwed finto the casing until the frame, caps, gears. and Worm aresecured in place. Then the casing with the attached parts is reversed.and fastened on the upper edge of the box b by bolts b or otherwise. Thedisk g is pushed over the end of the shaft Q until its groove 7i engagesthe pin i thereof. placed on the bed a and moved toward the box untilthe lpin 'i of its shaft engages the outer groove h of the disk,whereupon the motor is clamped to the bed, and the compressor is readyto operate. The parts are taken apart in reverse order.

Should it be necessary to examine the driving mechanism the casing Bwith the connected parts can be lifted off and these parts can beinspected or repaired without dis- .turbing the motor or the valvemechanism. If' the valves need ins ection 1t 1s simply nec or this andthe cover essary to lift the cap O. Access to the cylinders lifting the-top F without disturbing cover or cap. y

in operation, if the source of power isa high speed motor the worms andgears will be oi such ratio as is necessary to reduce the speed ofthecranks to that best suited forl the Work, say for example about 10()revolutions per minute. The worms can be drlven in either direction, andwill drive the gears 111 reverse direction so that their-intermeshingteeth will travel in the same direction as they revolve. The reverseWorms and the intermeshing gears will take' up fwithin themcan be had bythe selves the thrust incident to their motion and thus counterbalancethe worin shaft endwise, avoiding any thrust bearings. The ireedom forlend movement which the bearlngs e provide for the Worm shaft enables itto move TCO axially to its normal position relatively to the two gears;and its loose connection through the coupling WV enables it to adjustitself irrespective of the motor shaft. This" coupling also permits themotor shaft to run out of line with the worm shaft Without tending tocramp the latter. The cranks being quartered assho'wn, as-one piston ofthe crank of the lright hand gear .completes its working stroke theother will complete its suctionl stroke, and the one crank of the lefthand gear will bein the middle of its working stroke and the other willbe in the middle of its'sucticn stroke. Owing to the circular motion ofthe' cranks the Well known crank action ell'ect on the pistons will beobtained and-.the l,piston traveling will progressively' lei-.iease'inspeed toward the ends of each stroke thus obtaining the minimum of speedduring the maximum of compression, andI dependent of the others each canperform its own l'unctions regardless of the others, and exact relativepositions y*fof the opposlte cranks of a gear are not requisite, nor 1sperlect workmanshipnecessary. If the cranks are not correctly locatedthe only disadvantage will be a slight departure from the preferredrelation of the pistons.

v.my invention, or in such modifie Lubrication'of the driving mechanism,pistons, cylinders, and pitmen is attained by making the box B an oilreservoir, the oil .in which is raised by the ears into the 0 en ends ofthe cylinders, W ich gives comp ete automatic lubrication withoutnecessitating special attention. Placin the shaft above the gears asshown avoi s necessity for a stulling box around the shaft, savesheight, and permits a deep oilreservoir.

.lt willbe seen that my invention provides various improvements whichcan be readily and advantageously availed of either in whole or in part,either in the form shown, which constitutes the preferred ada tation ofform as circumstances or the judgment' of those lskilled in the art maydictate, and it will be understood that I do not limit myself to theparticular details of the construction arrangement or combinationset`forth as constituting the preferred'form offmypresent" improvements.

Air compressors 1 and 'other' devices lernbodyin my improvements securereliability, e ciency,-and durability,-and attain smooth and quietaction, withautomatic lubrication, and economy of space required. Theinvention solves the problem of the transmission of -the power highspeed -devices to compressors and other apparatus where for the sake ofdurability a moderate speed is desirable. ItJobtains a uniformdistribution ofthe load t oughout each revolution of thecranks whichisimportant in order that the natural wear shall be evenly distributed anda uniform resistractically ance be presented tothe action of the sourceof power'when for example such source is an electric motor. It providesa durable, rellable, noiseless, efficient, and generally satis factorydevice which `can be' employed t0 transmit power .under a wide rangedofspeed ratios.

It will be sets of cranks can be carried by or driven from the ears inany suitable way lto balance the end t ust of the worm. l

What I claim is:

1. The combination with right-hand and left-hand worms, of worm gears.meshing therewith andwith each other, and eachhaving cranks, cylinderscorresponding to said cranks respectivel valves for said cylinders,

a piston Vin each o said cylinders, and means p vconnectmg each pistonlwith its corresponding crank, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. -The combination with vriglfit-hand and left-hand worms, of wormgears meshing with .said worms respectively, and having means fortransmitting .the thrustfof each to the other, cranks driven by saidWormgears respectively, pistons connected to and driven bysaid cranks,cylinders inwhich said plstons Work respectively, and valves forsaidcylinders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. i s 1 3. -Thecombination with right-'hand and left-hand worms, of worm gears eachmeshing with 'and drivenfby one of said worms, and having 'means fortransmitting, the

- thrust of each worm to the other,` reciprocating pistons, cylinders inwhich said pistons work respectively, valves for saidcylindera and meansoperated by .one of said gears for transmitting reciprocating motion to.one of 'said pistons, and means operated byl the under stood` thatcranks need not -necessarily form separate parts connected to -the wormgears as shown, as either orboth other of said gears for transmittingr'ecipro-` i eating motion to the other of said pistons,

substantially asandfor the purpose set forth.

4. The combinationA with right-hand and left-hand worms, ofworm gearsmeshing therewith,-each of said gears having cranks at its opposltesides, cylinders `corresl onding v.to said cranks respectively, valves.orisaid.4 cylinders, a piston 1n each. of sam .'cyhnders,

means each connecting one of said pistons with its corresponding crank,and said gears each having means vmechanically connecting said gearstogether to transmit the load from one to the other thereof,substantiallyas and substantially as and for .the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with four cylinders, of

a pis-ton in each oisaid cylinders, and each independent of those in theotherxeylinders', valves and valve chambersfor said cylinders, a crankopposite each of said cylinders for -reciproeatingthe piston therein,means connecting said several cranks together for driving them inpredetermined relation'to each other, and for transmitting the thrust ofeach crank tov the others consisting of worm gears having meansmechanically connecting them -ftogetlieig and worms connected rigidlytorespectively, a valve chamber gether and meshing with said worm gearsfor driving them, substantially asand for the purpose set forth. l

7. rIlhe combination with four pistons and means for reciprocating them,of a casing having four cylinders, receiving said istons ihr saicylinders, and having a port connecting with each, and having' adischarge outlet between said cylinders, a Worm, and a worm gear belowsaid cylinders and beneath and meshing with said Worm, and driving saidmeans, substan-k tially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination with a cylinder casing B having a plurality ofcylinders, of atop F closing said .cylinders atene end, and having portsK communicating therewith respectively, and a suction port L and a valveseat c for each of said cylinders, a cover() havinga valve chamber H andvalve seatd for each of saidcylinders, ball valves I and J for' saidseats respectively, a cap P for said cover, pistons in said cylinders,vand vmeans for recip rocating said pistons, substantially'as and y,

for the purpose set forth.

t y 9;' The combination with a casing having a plurality of upright'cylinders, valves for said cylinders, pistons in said cylindersrespectively, land cranks below saidy cylinders connected togetherfortransmitting the thrust of each to the other, of a Worin gear betweenand connected 'to said cranksfor 1 .driving them, a worm above andmeshing with said ,worin gear for driving itmeans athshafts,yintermeshing worm gears one on cach porting base carrying said parts,substanconnected to .such casing, independently ol Worm gearsrespectivelybn each 'of said shafts and a common worm shaft for drivingsaid gears.

-paratus com rising a l r 'symmetric al y disposewith respect to the forreciprocating said p1stons,said' cranks shafts transversely dis osed oneadjacent taching said cranks and worm and Wormvgear to said casing belowsaid cylinders, and a suptiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with a casing having a plurality of cylinders,valves for said cylinders, and pistons in said cylinders, of crankssecured to the lower part of said casing for reciprocating said pistons,a Worm gear below said casing for driving said cranks, a worm shaftabove and vmeshing with said gear for drivingY the latter, and a basehaving an oil chamber inclosing suoli cranks and said worm gearsandwornl shaft, substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

1l. The combination with a casing having a cylinder open at its lowerend, valves for said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a crank belowsaid cylinder for operating said iston, oi a worin gear below saidcylinder or drivingsaid crank, a worin' above and meshing with said gearfor driving it, and a base su porting said parts and having an oil boxbellhw said cylinder and inclosingsaid crank, worm gear and worm,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination with a easing having a plurality of verticalcylinders, pistons therein respectively, valves for said cylinders, andcranks below and connected to said y pistons for reciprocating them, ofa base beneath said cylinders, supporting said raising. and having `anoil box beneath the latter llaving an openingV through the upper part ofsaid base for receiving and inelosing said cranks, and having a-bedportion adjacent to' said box, an electric motor vmounted on such hedportion, a worm shaft having a worm wi thin saidbox, a worm gear mountedin said box driving said cranks and'mesliing with `said worin, andmeansfor compensating for variations inalinement between said worinshaft and motor shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I13. A iluid compressor comprising a 'plurality of pumping cylinders,reciprocating plungers therein and pitmen respectively connected to saidplungers, a pair of eran shafts-disposed sideby side transversely totheaxis of said cylinders with crank arm connections with said pitmen,'intermeshing A 14.. In a fluid cemp'ressor, a pumping aplurality ofcylinders central axis ofthe said compressor, crank the ends of each.pair o cylinders, plungers within the cylinders and pitmen connectingthem` respectively with their adjacent crank of said crank shafts and acommon power shaft for said worm gears having worms engaging therewith.

15. In a fluid com ressor, a uinping apparatus comprising our cylinerssymmet rically disposed with respect to the central axis of the saidcompressor, crank' shafts transversely disposed one adjacent the ends ofeach pair of cylinders, plungers within the cylinders and pitmenconnecting them re spectively with their adjacent crank shafts,intermeshing worm gears one on each of Asaid crank shafts and a commonpower shaft for said worm gears having Worms engaging therewith. I

16. In a fluid com ressor, a umping apparatus comprising fdur cylin erssymmetrically disposed with respect to the central axis of the saidcompressor, crank shafts transversely disposed one adjacent the ends ofeach pair of cylinders, plungers within the cylinders and pitmen:connecting them respectively with their adjacent crank shafts,

a pair of'intermeshing Worm gears one on each of said crank shafts and acommon power shaft for said worm gears having reversely pitched Wormsengaging therewith.

17.v In a fluid compressor, va set of four pumping cylinderssymmetrically disposed .iso

with respect to the central axis of the said compressor, plungers' andconnected pitmen.

therefor, in combination with a pair of intermeshing gears centrally disosed between the axes of each' pair of cylinders land having crankconnections with said itmen, and a ower shaft common to sai worm gearsaving reversely pitched Worms in engagement therewith, whereby thestrains of said gearing arerendered substantially uniform regardless ofthe relative positions of the plungers within their cylinders.

18. Ina fluid compressor, a plurality of cylinders having reciprocatingplungers therein, a shaft common to each pair of plunger-s vand providedwith crank connections with each of vthem, worm gears positively gearedtogether and to said shaft, in combination with a power shaft engagingsaid worm gears and disposed between the plane of their axes and theends of the cylinders.

19, In a fluid compressor, a cylinder casting, a reciprocating plungertherein, a journal bracket rsecured thereto comprising a pillow blockand cap plate therefor, said block and plate forming a journal seat,gear ing journaled in said seat for reciprocating said plunger, incombination with a power shaft for driving said gearing and I'a journalseat for said power shaft comprised of complementary recesses in themeeting faces of said casting and pillow block and bolts eX- tendingthrough said cap, pillow block and casting for fastening them securelytogether and'coniining the shaft and gearing inthe respective journalseats.

20. In a fluid compressor, a cylinder having a plunger dprovided with,apitman, a-

crank shaft an gear Wheel for driving said pitman, in combination with asupport for said shaft and wheel secured direct y to the end face of thecylinder, said su port comprising .a bracket with a centra recess foryreceiving a gear wheel and forked members constituting journal seats forthe crank shaft and being also provided with a recess comprising aortion of the journal seat for the .power sha t.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses. f

' MILAN WQHALL. Witnesses l l THOMAS' F. `WALLACE,

FRED WHITE.

